This city was both a breath of fresh air, and a weight tied around my ankles. It had been a while since I had been anywhere near here, and as soon as I got back into my hometown, I didn't regret that decision.

 

I left to get away, and to grow up. 

 

It wasn't exactly the greatest reason to escape, but I had to leave behind the shadow that was holding me down, despite how irrelevant I became to that shadow. That had always been one of my flaws; when everyone had forgotten all of their hurt, mine was merely beginning. 

 

What I didn't think of when I left, however, was the blatantly obvious fact that I had to return at some point. I was so happy when I moved across the country to go to school. I was so happy living on my own in the ever so romanticized New York City. I was so happy on my graduation day, knowing that I had fulfilled on of my biggest dreams,  until I realized that I had to come back to my Northern California home. 

 

And as soon as I arrived, all of my old friends greeted me as if I had never left. I thought I had changed, I thought they would have changed too, but as soon as we made jokes in a familiar fashion and laughed at the same things, I realized that growing up wasn't exactly what had happened to our bond.

 

I had seen everyone; I couldn't escape running into old acquaintances in a city of this size. 

 

I hadn't seen him, though. And that was a good sign.